The FAA has released the latest edition of the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for private pilots. The 87-page ACS, which went into effect Friday, may be found online or at pilot supply shops. With the exception of the syllabus, it is often the most neglected FAA publication.
The FAA updates the ACS document used to determine that an applicant has achieved at least the minimum standards required for certification, yet many learners—and CFIs—are reluctant to review it until training is almost completed. It can be a rude surprise when they discover that the maneuver they have been doing the same way since they learned it doesn’t meet the standard as set forth in the ACS.
